Ceanothus impressus impressus

Identification

Description

Ceanothus impressus impressus is an evergreen six to ten foot shrub with very small 1/4-1/2" leaves and curled margins. Santa Barbara Mountain Lilac has aromatic foliage and very showy deep blue, sometimes lavender flowers. It has good garden tolerance near the coast but will tolerate interior heat if given 1/week regular water (at the drip line). No frost damage at 15 deg. This ceanothus froze to the ground a 0, but recovered. For you folks in the Northwest it seems to be 5 degrees hardier than Madrone. Common associated plants in the wild are Arctostaphylos purissima, Arctostaphylos rudis, Diplacus lompocensis, Artemisia californica, Quercus agrifolia, Quercus parvula, and Pinus muricata. This ceanothus grows on sand with a hard pan layer commonly at 1-3' on the central coast. It is in sun or full shade under the dwarfed coast live oaks, there were none taller than 4'. This form was grown for a site-specific mitigation. This is probably one of the parents of Julia Phelps', Celestial Blue and Dark Star'(Death Star') Click here for more about Mountain Lilacs.

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